CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Converse University cross country teams took part in the Royals Cross Country Challenge Friday afternoon at McAlpine Creek Park, hosted by Queens University. The Converse men placed eighth overall in the gold 8K and the Converse women placed 16th in the gold 5K. One member of the men's team competed in the blue 8K.

The Converse women set five personal bests, and the men set nine, with every Valkyrie man in the gold 8K hitting a new PR.

Women's Notes:

• The top three Valkyries all set new personal bests in the 5K. Sophomores Evie De Roos and Ines Pierrefitte finished 51st and 75th, respectively, with times of 18:35.8 and 18:58.7. Junior Sara Aguiar Torre finished 95th with a time of 19:17.1.
• Freshman Zarya Mines finished four places later with a time of 19:21.5.
• Senior Mackenzie Crandell rounded out the Valkyries' scorers with a time of 20:13.4, a personal best, in 148th place.
• Junior Peyton MacMillan finished the race four places after Crandell with a time of 20:18.2. Senior Paisley Stepp finished right behind MacMillan with a time of 20:19.3.
• Freshmen Myla Mason, Alyssa Skory and junior Hailey Jones rounded out the Valkyries' performances with times of 20:31.1, 20:39.1 and 21:47 in 165th, 171st and 198th, respectively. Jones set a new personal best as well.

Men's Notes:  

• Reigning Conference Carolinas Runner of the Week Ander Vera Moleres placed eighth with a time of 24:35.0.
• Freshman Lucas Boulakia finished 42nd with a time of 25:12.0.
• Junior Alex Porter finished seven places later with a time of 25:14.6.
• Sophomore James Hook finished 61st with a time of 25:24.5.
• Junior Reece Evans finished 110th with a time of 26:14.8.
• Sophomore Benjamin Notarangelo finished in 161st with a time of 26:55.3.
• Three freshmen rounded out the Valkyries' performance at the meet: Jayden Finney in 193rd, Cameron Bybee in 200th and Ethan Lyon in 201st. They had times of 27:45.9, 28:05.2 and 28:07.9, respectively.
• Freshman Wyatt Grier finished 172nd with a time of 32:21.6 in the blue race.

Next Up:
The Valkyries are back in action on Saturday, Nov. 7, as they compete in the Conference Carolinas Championship at Milliken Research Park.
  
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